Thank you for sharing, Evelyn! This is interesting. I haven't heard of this book before and now I need to add it to my library. :) I've recognized some of these in my own study and reading, but a few are new ideas. And I love thinking about the theory behind stories and story creation!
For me, I love to write because I get to explore an idea, a motivation, or a world that I don't have access to (whether real or make believe). And I also get a lot of joy out of taking a perceived rule and playing with it, turning it upside down, or throwing it out the window completely. I like to be surprised as a reader and, as a writer I hope to surprise my readers. In a pleasant way of course. :)
You're so very welcome, Petra! I hope you find the book interesting to study. :) I love all the ways you find joy in writing. I think that's such a huge part of loving writing, is the joy of the process--like you said, the figuring out, the turning upside down... it's all fun!
Well said! Sometimes it does feel like the publishing industry is against what you're writing and what you want to read, but I know all I can really do about it is work on my craft and hope for the best. We'll all get there eventually.
I love when other authors share how many manuscripts they wrote before finding an agent or being published, because it dispels the myth that the "successful" authors were overnight successes. It takes a lot of time and work for all of us, but like you said, we all get there, if we are patient enough and honest enough with ourselves to keep improving and learning while we write more. Lots of love and optimism to you!
I have noticed these themes in books. I think the code works best when the author creates a main character that's interesting or relatable. If you despise the main character as time goes on your less likely to finish the book/series.
I have always had a hard time reading unlikeable narrators. I know that's just my preference, and some readers find them very intriguing and challenging, in a good way. But I feel the same as you about unlikeable MCs (in books, TV shows, etc.) Then again, what is unstomachable to one person may be a fascinating character study to another... To each their own! :)
Since the insights in the Bestseller Code are mostly general, they will probably have value for some time. But figuring out what specifics are involved, as you point out, is a far different thing. When we try to chase the current trend, we run the risk of arriving too late or of becoming one of many who successfully beat the trend to death.
Totally agree, Bill, that trend-chasing is not a guaranteed path to success. Trends are highly correlated to that random/luck aspect of publishing, I think...
Also agree that there are definitely some interesting insights we can glean from The Bestselller Code on a general level!
At the end of the day, though, the writing that stands out often stands out because of the unique writer. Being YOU is the best way, in my opinion, to write. ;)
I wonder if this is science though. Had they analyzed antique greek tragedies they would have come to a completely different conclusion. Tastes in art change. The rush to use technology to crack writing is astonishing. There’s a whole company writing AI books that got millions in funding. Meanwhile, nobody wants to fund human writers.
In the book they did note that this was specifically focused on American bestsellers within a limited time period, so the research was only about that limited data set. Agreed that tastes definitely change, not only based on the date and location, but also even based on the reader's age/phase of life, at least in my experience. The kind of stories I loved when I was a young adult are very different to what I'm drawn to know in my mid-forties.
I assumed as much 😂 The problem with this type of research is that the formulas work only for cookie cutter copy cats. Take for example Dune, one of the greatest Hollywood films in a very long time. This is because the source material is so unique.
It also reminds me of another craft book I once read (okay, skimmed), Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, especially the stuff around high-concept premise. Interesting to know that the data they've collected here backs it up. Part of me does wonder if there's a bit of a chicken and egg situation happening however where publishers invest the most $ into high-concept books, then these books sell well as a result (sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy in the positive direction).
Oh yeah, I remember that book! And that's a great question--one for the ages--do books sell well because of publisher money, or do high concepts sell well because that's what the big audiences want? It's very apt that you said it's a chicken and egg situation!
Who knows? There's always someone disrupting the scene by coming up with something new that sells and is all the rage. Then you have a bunch of copy-cats doing more of the same and they also sell. Then the public gets bored and someone else comes up with something new. And so on. I don't think that you can have a bestseller formula for a very long time.
I'm interested to read this book now. I agree that it's probably not best to write strictly to the formula, but I'm fascinated by what makes a particular book hugely popular. (On a completely different note, your article got me thinking of note-taking on craft books. Do you take digital notes? Annotate the books? I'm always curious about the process of other writers!)
The Bestseller Code is an interesting read, especially if you like data but go into it knowing that it's not going to give you a secret sauce to instant bestsellerdom. ;) As for notes on non-fiction (like craft books), I usually jot them down in Simplenote, which is the notes app I use. As you can tell from this article and others I've pieces I've written with Writing Advice, I take notes in outline form. That's the way my brain works... very type A, haha.
How about you? How do you take notes? And perhaps more importantly, how do you remember later that you have taken interesting/useful notes?? (I often forget for years until I scroll through my notes app, usually looking for book ideas from Past Me.)
I'm a 'will write a book in the future', current researcher-resource-deliverer. So my knowledge management system is my treasure vault of many streams of thought-ideas;-)
I annotate the books I own, which I love, because I'm definitely a tactile learner. I've been craving a digital system, though, for the very reasons you and Victoria mention. Maybe I'll give Notion a try -- I already use it for other stuff, and it would be nice to organize by tags for when I want to find something.
I think I learn languages better when I do my homework by hand vs on a computer screen! I believe there are studies that show that writing by hand does make a difference.
What a great article. Thank you. I think I have put some of this "code" unintentionally. I want to write great stories, be able to express myself, and connect with readers. Writing with the goal of it being a bestseller is not my intention. I think it would take the joy out of the writing. I can't predict the outcome of how it will be received. I can only do my best to write a really good story.
I love everything you said here! I think you're right, that the best intention to lead with is to tell a really good story. Then if you happen to put something in that was one of the ingredients, it's just a side effect that perhaps adds to the appeal. Or perhaps not lol!
"I write because I love to tell stories and share them with readers" – that's it exactly 👆🙌
It's the only motivation that lasts. 💗
I like to write to make an impact even it may be a small one.
I love this 😁
😀😀
Thank you for sharing, Evelyn! This is interesting. I haven't heard of this book before and now I need to add it to my library. :) I've recognized some of these in my own study and reading, but a few are new ideas. And I love thinking about the theory behind stories and story creation!
For me, I love to write because I get to explore an idea, a motivation, or a world that I don't have access to (whether real or make believe). And I also get a lot of joy out of taking a perceived rule and playing with it, turning it upside down, or throwing it out the window completely. I like to be surprised as a reader and, as a writer I hope to surprise my readers. In a pleasant way of course. :)
You're so very welcome, Petra! I hope you find the book interesting to study. :) I love all the ways you find joy in writing. I think that's such a huge part of loving writing, is the joy of the process--like you said, the figuring out, the turning upside down... it's all fun!
Well said! Sometimes it does feel like the publishing industry is against what you're writing and what you want to read, but I know all I can really do about it is work on my craft and hope for the best. We'll all get there eventually.
I love when other authors share how many manuscripts they wrote before finding an agent or being published, because it dispels the myth that the "successful" authors were overnight successes. It takes a lot of time and work for all of us, but like you said, we all get there, if we are patient enough and honest enough with ourselves to keep improving and learning while we write more. Lots of love and optimism to you!
I have noticed these themes in books. I think the code works best when the author creates a main character that's interesting or relatable. If you despise the main character as time goes on your less likely to finish the book/series.
I have always had a hard time reading unlikeable narrators. I know that's just my preference, and some readers find them very intriguing and challenging, in a good way. But I feel the same as you about unlikeable MCs (in books, TV shows, etc.) Then again, what is unstomachable to one person may be a fascinating character study to another... To each their own! :)
Thank you! The "code" can work or it can't. I think it depends on the story and the reader.
Since the insights in the Bestseller Code are mostly general, they will probably have value for some time. But figuring out what specifics are involved, as you point out, is a far different thing. When we try to chase the current trend, we run the risk of arriving too late or of becoming one of many who successfully beat the trend to death.
Totally agree, Bill, that trend-chasing is not a guaranteed path to success. Trends are highly correlated to that random/luck aspect of publishing, I think...
Also agree that there are definitely some interesting insights we can glean from The Bestselller Code on a general level!
At the end of the day, though, the writing that stands out often stands out because of the unique writer. Being YOU is the best way, in my opinion, to write. ;)
I love how you share your insights, Evelyn - red carpet or ciphers thank you!
I'm so happy they are interesting to you! thank you!
They could’ve spared their research and simply read ‘Save the Cat’. But then, they wouldn’t have a reason to write a book. 🤣
lol. And yet, a good scientist never knows the result going into an experiment, right?
I wonder if this is science though. Had they analyzed antique greek tragedies they would have come to a completely different conclusion. Tastes in art change. The rush to use technology to crack writing is astonishing. There’s a whole company writing AI books that got millions in funding. Meanwhile, nobody wants to fund human writers.
In the book they did note that this was specifically focused on American bestsellers within a limited time period, so the research was only about that limited data set. Agreed that tastes definitely change, not only based on the date and location, but also even based on the reader's age/phase of life, at least in my experience. The kind of stories I loved when I was a young adult are very different to what I'm drawn to know in my mid-forties.
I assumed as much 😂 The problem with this type of research is that the formulas work only for cookie cutter copy cats. Take for example Dune, one of the greatest Hollywood films in a very long time. This is because the source material is so unique.
It also reminds me of another craft book I once read (okay, skimmed), Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, especially the stuff around high-concept premise. Interesting to know that the data they've collected here backs it up. Part of me does wonder if there's a bit of a chicken and egg situation happening however where publishers invest the most $ into high-concept books, then these books sell well as a result (sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy in the positive direction).
Oh yeah, I remember that book! And that's a great question--one for the ages--do books sell well because of publisher money, or do high concepts sell well because that's what the big audiences want? It's very apt that you said it's a chicken and egg situation!
Who knows? There's always someone disrupting the scene by coming up with something new that sells and is all the rage. Then you have a bunch of copy-cats doing more of the same and they also sell. Then the public gets bored and someone else comes up with something new. And so on. I don't think that you can have a bestseller formula for a very long time.
Agreed, which is why we (mostly) have to write what we want and hope for the best!
I'm interested to read this book now. I agree that it's probably not best to write strictly to the formula, but I'm fascinated by what makes a particular book hugely popular. (On a completely different note, your article got me thinking of note-taking on craft books. Do you take digital notes? Annotate the books? I'm always curious about the process of other writers!)
The Bestseller Code is an interesting read, especially if you like data but go into it knowing that it's not going to give you a secret sauce to instant bestsellerdom. ;) As for notes on non-fiction (like craft books), I usually jot them down in Simplenote, which is the notes app I use. As you can tell from this article and others I've pieces I've written with Writing Advice, I take notes in outline form. That's the way my brain works... very type A, haha.
How about you? How do you take notes? And perhaps more importantly, how do you remember later that you have taken interesting/useful notes?? (I often forget for years until I scroll through my notes app, usually looking for book ideas from Past Me.)
I make notes in 'Notion' or 'Evernote' so that I can sort by 'tags'. With Notion I can cross reference notes, sources and info, AND prioritise drafts...yes, I'm a bit Type A too ;-) https://www.carermentor.com/p/back-office-operations-intro-to-notion
I'm a 'will write a book in the future', current researcher-resource-deliverer. So my knowledge management system is my treasure vault of many streams of thought-ideas;-)
oh I love this! Thank you for sharing that info and your methodology! :)
You're very welcome, Evelyn. I hope my article helps, happy to share more thoughts if you have any questions.;-)
I annotate the books I own, which I love, because I'm definitely a tactile learner. I've been craving a digital system, though, for the very reasons you and Victoria mention. Maybe I'll give Notion a try -- I already use it for other stuff, and it would be nice to organize by tags for when I want to find something.
I think I learn languages better when I do my homework by hand vs on a computer screen! I believe there are studies that show that writing by hand does make a difference.
What a great article. Thank you. I think I have put some of this "code" unintentionally. I want to write great stories, be able to express myself, and connect with readers. Writing with the goal of it being a bestseller is not my intention. I think it would take the joy out of the writing. I can't predict the outcome of how it will be received. I can only do my best to write a really good story.
I love everything you said here! I think you're right, that the best intention to lead with is to tell a really good story. Then if you happen to put something in that was one of the ingredients, it's just a side effect that perhaps adds to the appeal. Or perhaps not lol!